Brown's Incredible S S S Performance At Sungold Stadium
Saturday, 13 February 2010 by Gavin White
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Fans at round 8 of the Triple X Speedcar Super Series at Sungold Stadium presented by Warrnambool Rapid Mix Concrete witnessed one of the great performances when Sydney’s Mark Brown in the KC Tools #69 stormed from a lowly 18th starting spot to win the 30 lap final. It was a spectacular win against the odds as he sailed past the entire field in a thrilling race that endured a solitary caution period with only one lap remaining and by that stage Brown had a firm grasp on the winners trophy.
After being sensationally excluded from time trials in the early part of the evening which saw him enter the heat races from the bottom of the points table, Brown’s never say die attitude led him to the chequered flag in a race filled with some of Australia’s best Speedcar drivers.
“I’ve been looking forward to coming to this place for sixteen years,” beamed winner Brown from the post race presentations.
“The start of the night turned bad after hot laps and it wasn’t looking good but I got angry and got fast and never gave up, I never ever gave up.”
“I made a few little mistakes in the middle there and I told myself to settle down get back in the groove and before I knew it I was up the front.”
“I could see Smee and a couple of others up the front and I just kept picking them off one by one and that’s a life time dream to race like that tonight.”
“I pride myself on not wrecking my car. A couple of times I had to get out of the throttle. Yeah it’s dangerous but if you’re going to worry about that you shouldn’t race.”
“It rates as the best race ever. To put on a show for the people here is great and Mike and Gina Rinkin get all the glory of this one. The car was on rails and my crew guys that set the car up are great. Thanks to my wife and kids that come along as well as the Speedcar Super Series team, Millsy and Premier Speedway for putting the show on.”
Starting from dead last in both his heats, Brown was able to win his first from the rear in a sensational sign of things to come while the other was counted as a DNF as mechanical failure got the best of him.
Finishing runner up to Brown was Sydney’s Troy Jenkins who ended qualifying as the highest point scorer following a consistent run in his heats. Jenkins led the feature when he shot by early race leader and Top 8 Pole Shuffle winner Keith Giles 5 laps into the race. Jenkins managed to open a handy advantage until the dying laps when Brown was able to seal the deal, sliding past Jenkins with just four laps to go.
Jenkins concluded, “second was as good as we could do tonight and now we can push on to next week. At no stage leading do you ever say I’ve got this in the bag and I have to thank the guys who have been working with me after the bad luck we’ve had.”
“I thought the track was sensational. This is the first time I’ve been to Warrnambool and there was a top line, a mid section so it was good for slide jobs. It was great”
Third place Giles sees himself as well prepared for a shot at the Australian Title next weekend at Avalon Raceway by saying, “we were a little bit tight for the feature. Browny caught both Jenko and I with our pants down actually! I wondered where Browny had come from but I’m happy you know, the car’s straight and it’s a confidence booster entering the Australian title next week at Avalon.”
New South Welshman Nathan Smee held onto fourth position with Victorian Harley Bishop and Queenslander Grant Draney finishing fifth and sixth respectively. Teenager Brock Hallet, Scott Glazebrook, Quick Time winner John McKay, Sid Whittaker, Michael Harders, Craig Hume and Ben Dillon rounded out the field.
Non finishers were Peter Ghent, Adam Wallis, Les Robertson, Anthony Brien and Dene McAllan with the latter pair tangling on the white flag lap that set up the green, white and chequer run to the finish.
Heat race wins went to Giles with Brown taking the second heat in a thrilling battle from the last staring position to defeat Draney. Heats three and four were won by Smee and Ghent respectively.
The Australian Wingless Sprints also battled it out for the Parr Motorsports backed Super Six Series with the current Victorian Champion Jeffrey Judd proving too good by leading from flag to flag with a convincing victory.
The Camperdown ace said, “the car was really good tonight. The track was great and it wasn’t a Sunday drive but it is definitely easier out front. I’ve been doing this for twenty odd years, so it’s good to jump back in after crewing with Jamie Veal, which I enjoy just as much as racing myself.”
The A-main was a 20-lap battle between David McKay, Rory Button, Stephen Hodder and Bradley Warren for the final podium positions with McKay and Button eventually edging out their rivals to finish second and third respectively. Hodder, Warren, Phil Micallef, Luke Weel, Jye Saunders, Andy Caruana, James Wren, Scott Drew, Gary Bell, Damien Meade, Andy Hibbert and Lee Meade rounding out the A-main finishers.
The B-main was run and won by Brad Warren from Damien Meade, Wren and Caruana who all transferred into the A-main.
Heat race wins went to Drew, Hibbert and Judd in round one with Saunders, Hodder and McKay saluting in round two to complete an excellent nights racing from the Australian Wingless Sprints.
A reminder that the Race Info Line 9513 5555 contains all the information for upcoming events.
For more details phone General Manager David Mills 0408 529 625
Website – www.premierspeedway.com.au
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Speedcar Super Series champ Mark Brown was at his very best tonight at Warrnambool. Pic Stephen Pickering
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Sungold Stadium, Premier Speedway is located 3 hours South West of Melbourne near the beautiful coastal city of Warrnambool. Steeped in tradition Sungold Stadium is a AAA rated venue offering excellent facilities for competitors, spectators and officials alike.
Located only a short driver from the internationally acclaimed Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, there is loads for tourists to the area to see and do.
